December 13, 2003
Father John Rusteika
Father Rusteika was born on June 30, 1919 in South Boston, MA. After completing his theological studies at St. Meinrad Seminary, St. Meinrad, IN, he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita at St. Peter’s Parish in South Boston on Aug. 24, 1945 by Archbishop Richard Cushing. As an assistant pastor he served in Independence, Odin, and Cunningham. As pastor he was stationed at Moline in1948, at Piqua in 1954, at Fort Scott in 1956, at Arkansas City in 1964, at Colwich in 1966 and at Humboldt in 1985. In 1993 he retired in Hot Springs, AR and in 2000 he moved to the Priest Retirement Center in Wichita. He died on Dec. 13, 2003 at 84 years of age and with 58 years in the priesthood. Msgr. Vincent Hogan said of Fr. Rusteika, “He was a devoted priest in whatever parish he served.” (The Catholic Advance, Dec. 19, 2003) Bishop Thomas Olmsted was principal celebrant of Fr. Rusteika’s funeral at St. Elizabeth Chapel in the Catholic Care Center in Wichita. Fr. Rusteika was buried in Ascension Cemetery, Wichita, KS.